‘No Need For Fear Of Seal Exploitation’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31224, 23 November 1966, Page 24

‘No Need For Fear Of Seal Exploitation’

There need be no fear of New Zealand seal colonies being exploited, according to the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott). He has explained present regulations in reply to a correspondent, “Penguin,” who wrote to “The Press.”:— “A privately-owned seaquarium” at Auckland is to be stocked with animals that are supposed to enjoy complete protection from molestation. Three seals, according to the news item, are to be caught at Kaikoura and transferred north to enrich a private individual. How do you stop Kaikoura fishermen shooting these harmless creatures on one hand and yet sanction their exploitation on the other? Does a leopard seal qualify for protection? If so, who allowed his capture and why has the whop; affair been kept so secre*. In Russia, long portrayed as lacking in humanity, the dolphins are regarded as remarkably human and are totally protected. In our society they are objects of scorn and captured and murdered until one or two survive to perform simple

acts to keep the coffers of their captors full. The Marine Department has let the country down.”

Mr Scott replied:— “The taking of seals of all kinds is prohibited, unless the taker holds a licence or is otherwise authorised to take seals for exhibition or for scientific or other like purposes.

“By regulation (SR 1966/26) the closed season for the taking of seals, which has’been in force for many years, was again extended for a further period of three years, until March 31, 1969. Accordingly no licences have been or are likely to be granted for the commercial exploitation of seal stocks on the New Zealand coast.

“There is however provision in the Fisheries Act, 1908, at Section 45 whereby the Minister of Marine may authorise the taking and the possession of seals during a close season for the purposes to which I have referred.

“This authority is sparingly exercised and the reference to the stocking of a seaquarium at Auckland probably relates to the authority I gave on August 3, for the taking of two seal pups from the seal fishery near Kaikoura to be exhibited in a seaquarium proposed to be established near Mount Maunganui. No authority has been granted for the stocking of a seaquarium at Auckland.

“While I appreciate that strong views are held by some on the matter of keeping animals of any kind in captivity, I do not think that your correspondent need be concerned that authority vested in me by the Act will lead to wholesale exploitation of seal colonies on the New Zealand coast and so bring about the situation of which he is apprehensive.”